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Bebop Spoken There

Branford Marsalis: "As ignorance often forces us to do, you make a generalisation about a musician based on one specific record or one moment in time." - (Jazzwise June 2023).

The Things They Say!

Hudson Music: Lance's "Bebop Spoken Here" is one of the heaviest and most influential jazz blogs in the UK.

Rupert Burley (Dynamic Agency): "BSH just goes from strength to strength".

'606' Club: "A toast to Lance Liddle of the terrific jazz blog 'Bebop Spoken Here'"

The Strictly Smokin' Big Band included Be Bop Spoken Here (sic) in their 5 Favourite Jazz Blogs.

Ann Braithwaite (Braithwaite & Katz Communications) You’re the BEST!

Holly Cooper, Mouthpiece Music: "Lance writes pull quotes like no one else!"

Postage

15491 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 15 years ago. 512 of them this year alone and, so far, 133 this month (May 31).

From This Moment On ...

Wed 07: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Wed 07: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 07: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 7:00pm.
Wed 07: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm.

Thu 08: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, North Tyneside. 1:00pm. Free. CANCELLED! BACK ON JUNE 15.
Thu 08: Easington Colliery Brass Band @ The Lubetkin Theatre, Peterlee. 7:00pm. £10.00.
Thu 08: Faye MacCalman + Blue Dust Archive @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Dilutey Juice + Ceramic @ The Ampitheatre, Sea Road, South Shields. 7:00pm. Free. A South Tyneside Festival event.
Thu 08: Lara Jones w. Vigilance State @ Lubber Fiend, Blandford Square, Newcastle. 7:00pm.
Thu 08: Michael Littlefield @ the Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Country blues.
Thu 08: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman's Club, Middlesbrough. 9:00pm.

Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms, Monkseaton. 1:00pm.
Fri 09: Castillo Nuevo @ Revolución de Cuba, Newcastle. 5:30-8:30pm.
Fri 09: Emma Rawicz @ Sage Gateshead. 8:00pm.

Sat 10: Miners' Picnic @ Woodhorn, Ashington. Music inc. Northern Monkey Brass Band (3:00-3:50pm); New York Brass Band (4:00-4:55pm).
Sat 10: Front Porch Three @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:00pm. Free. Americana, blues, jazz etc.
Sat 10: Merlin Roxby @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A 'Jar on the Bar' gig.

Sun 11: WORKSHOP: Tim Richards' Jazz Piano Workshop @ JG Windows, Newcastle. Time TBC. Further details tel. 0191 232 1356.
Sun 11: Jeremy McMurray's Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Ropner Park, Stockton TS18 4EF. 2:00-4:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Exchange, North Shields. 3:00pm.
Sun 11: Groovetrain @ Innisfree Sports & Social Club, Longbenton NE12 8TY. Doors 6:30pm. £15.00 (£7.00. under 16).
Sun 11: Jeffrey Hewer Collective @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm.

Tue 13: Paul Skerritt @ The Rabbit Hole, Hallgarth St., Durham DH1 3AT. 7:00pm. Paul Skerritt's (solo) weekly residency.
Tue 13: Infusion Trio @ Forum Music Centre, Darlington. 7:30pm.
Tue 13: Alice Grace & Pawel Jedrzejewski @ Black Swan, Newcastle Arts Centre. 8:00pm. £12.00 (£10.00. adv.).

Friday, May 19, 2023

Jazz at the Lit & Phil: The Windy City Weatherbirds - May 19

(© Lance)
Magnus Pickering (long model cornet, vocals); Joe Pickering (reeds); Daniel Pickering (trombone); Harrison Dolphin (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Robbie Ellison (drums)

It was like being at Newcastle's legendary New Orleans' Club back in the day. All that was missing was the smoke, the drunks and the mic. This latter item would have been handy to have. Otherwise, we could have been listening to those jazzmen who sailed under the flag of Panama or those of the River City Jazzmen. Both bands executed (in more ways than one) a brand of Dixieland cum Chicago that set the benchmark for this style in Newcastle.

(© Patti D)
Up from London, the Windy City Weatherbirds, fronted by the brothers Pickering (reminds me of the Christie Brothers Stompers), delved deep into the Chicago/Dixieland songbook soloing with retrospective authenticity.

I referred earlier to the lack of a mic. This was a two-edged sword. Certainly it would have enhanced Magnus' vocals had he been given that extra sonority so essential when singing these days. In fairness he did okay no doubt helped by the house acoustics plus, had he had a mic it would have amplified a couple of faux pas he made in his announcements.

Bob Crosby didn't play clarinet and, At the Jazz Band Ball although recorded by Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers wasn't an actual rag and they weren't a big band either.

Still, that's just me nitpicking which is something I couldn't do regarding the music which was superb.

All the three front line siblings (silently) boast of their achievements over several different genres and they have the technique to handle them.

Unusually, for a Dixie outfit, drummer Ellison used predominantly brushes and it was no worse for that.

The beautifully named Harrison Dolphin played acoustic guitar amped up by the only mic (am I reading more into this than I should?)

Stepping in at the eleventh hour was local 'boy' Paul Grainger on bass. Paul is rapidly evolving on the local scene as both bass player and gig organiser - indeed he is involved with tonight's gig by the band at The Vault in Hexham.

This was different from the usual bill of fayre at the Lit and Phil but that is the strength of these monthly gigs - quality and diversity is what Russell delivers.

One of the many comments I heard as I was leaving: 'Wasn't it great to hear young musicians playing jazz like this?' 

She was right! Lance

South Rampart Street Parade; I Wish I Could Shimmy Like my Sister Kate; If I Had You; At the Jazz Band Ball; Fools Rush in; I'm Crazy 'Bout my Baby; Lazy River; Riverboat Shuffle; Ain't Misbehavin'; Sweet Sue - Just You; 'S Wonderful; That's A-Plenty; Big Butter and Egg Man.

1 comment :

NeilC said...

I enjoyed the gig . I,like you Lance, thought putting songs with vocals in without a mic was a huge risk that didn't really pay off . The musicianship was excellent but I felt for Magnus who appeared quite nervous. The addition of having to perform vocals without a microphone to playing the cornet proved a huge challenge. Having failed to play a clarinet at school I am in awe of anyone who can play it and I thought Joe was outstanding . A really enjoyable hour in a very convivial venue.

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